The 6th Annual Delaware Energy Conference was held on October 24, 2019 at the Hilton Wilmington/Christiana in Newark, DE. Over 115 attendees heard from an array of guest speakers and interesting panel discussions at the event hosted by the Delaware Chapter of the Energy Services Coalition (ESC).

In October 2012, Delaware became the 28th ESC State Chapter when it hosted its first Chapter meeting. Since that time, the State of Delaware and the Delaware ESC Chapter have partnered to ensure that Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contracting (GESPC) reduces the strain on taxes and supports a healthy environment for Delawareans. The public/private partnership promotes solutions to failing and inefficient equipment in aging public buildings to reduce utility costs and energy and water consumption.

Known for its outreach, education efforts and events, the Delaware ESC Chapter held its first Delaware Energy Conference in 2014. The conference, with a focus on GESPC, has become an annual event and highlights past successes and looks ahead to future opportunities for renewable energy and energy efficiency project development in the state. To date, more than $125 million in energy savings projects have been implemented in Delaware as a result of a GESPC.

Key 2019 speakers included World Resources Institute Senior Fellow, Karl Hausker, as the morning speaker; New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, as the luncheon speaker; David Brown, Economic Policy Advisor to U.S. Senator Chris Coons; and a video speech from U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester. A total of 11 event sponsors and 15 exhibitors participated in the Conference.

World Resources Institute Senior Fellow, Karl Hausker led a lively and important address regarding the challenges of solving climate change and the impacts of transitioning to a 100% clean energy future. County Executive Matt Meyer’s topic of “A Green Energy Agenda for New Castle County”, featuring insight on the GreeNCC Program, gave the audience insights to the recently established program and its seven components.

A highlight of the day was the presentation of the Senator Harris B. McDowell 2019 Energy Champion Award to Seiberlich Trane Energy Services. This award is named in honor of Senator Harris McDowell, the Co-founder and Oversight Board Chairman of the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility – Energize Delaware. The first Energy Champion Award was presented to Senator McDowell in 2018 during the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility. The Senator presented the award to John Seiberlich, President & CEO for Seiberlich Trane Energy Services, and his staff.

Some of the aspects that made Seiberlich Trane Energy Services the Award recipient are:

over a 60-year history in the Delaware market

saved their clients more than $8 Million in energy savings through their projects

vision to be a leader in creating and sustaining comfortable and energy efficient buildings with a focus on sustainability for projects they develop for clients

their own office space is ENERGY STAR certified

active contractor in the delivery of Energy Savings Performance Contracting Projects in Delaware over the past eight years —participating in the 2011 Bond Issue, a 2014 Master Lease Agreement Project and the most recent 2018-2019 Bond Issue totaling over $40 Million

participation in the Energize Delaware Loan Program and worked with clients to secure funds totaling over $8 Million through this program for energy saving projects throughout the state

contractor for the first PACE Application in Delaware (New Castle County) this year for a project cost of $3.9 Million

As a result of these efforts and their continued focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability in Delaware, Energize Delaware was pleased to award Seiberlich Trane Energy Services with the 2019 Senator Harris B. McDowell Energy Champion Award.